Supreme Commander

Posted: 03/06/07

If there’s one genre that works better on the PC than any other platform, it’s real-time strategy games. As such, the PC market is virtually flooded with these games, and strategy titles have been notoriously slow to evolve—usually just heaping on the options, making them completely inaccessible to the average player. Supreme Commander is looking to break the mold. Sporting a simple interface, this is battle on a global scale. But is this world war worth fighting?rnrnAccording to Supreme Commander, in the future, civilization will be culled down to just three different factions--the UEF or United Earth Federation, The Cybran Nation, and the Aeon Illuminate. The UEF represent the good guys, or the humans. The Cybrans are half man, half machine, and the Aeon Illuminate, a fusion of humans and aliens, represent the outcasts. All three are vying for control of the planet, hoping to end the infinite war in their favor.rnrnIt’s all pretty standard RTS fare, but there’s plenty of motivation to play Supreme Commander from each different perspective as, in a unique twist for the genre, each faction has its own completely unique campaign.rnrnIf Supreme Commander’s design is summed up in one word, it’s “massive.” The scale of this game is absolutely incredible with air, land, and sea battles all taking place at once across an entire planet. Each faction shares the same goal—total world domination. To do this you must create a massive army, follow the orders given to you, and crush the opposition.rnrnThe key to the entire game is the commander. This versatile robot can do just about anything including building structures, gathering resources, creating units, repairs, attacks, and so much more. Centralizing all these functions makes it easy to understand how to play, and if all else fails and it’s destroyed, it turns into a lethal nuke.rnrnObjectives are handed down by superiors and it’s your job to carry them out. The more you complete, the more of the map is available for play. The more area you need to conquer, the more troops and units you’ll need. This cycle repeats over and over across the barren landscapes until the globe has been thoroughly dominated.rnrnThe planet is dotted with spots to extract mass, the resource in Supreme Commander that builds everything in the game. As you take over more spots on the map, you’re more capable of building larger bases and more units, provided you have enough energy being generated from power plants.rnrnUnit types range from simple tanks to scouts, bombers, anti-air, submarines, and the like. The experimental units are definitely the most unique, and effective. These massive machines of destruction can take a long time and a lot of resources to build, but they can also completely turn the tide of battle. It’s a risk and just one of many reasons why Supreme Commander is so good. If you’re tired of the same old elves and orcs, the units on offer in Supreme Commander will definitely rekindle the RTS flame.rnrnThe multiplayer options are just as solid, minus the fact that it’s a completely different program that must be launched separately. Because the game is so well balanced, multiplayer skirmishes play out like chess matches, with each move hoping to counteract those of the opposition. Turtling, a long-standing, cheap tactic, is also difficult to pull off due to the experimental units and intelligent map design.rnrnThe visuals are interesting, though you’re going to need a fairly hefty rig to keep it running smoothly, and with no mid-level save points it can become a grind. But with three separate campaigns and an excellent multiplayer option there’s plenty of meat to sink your teeth into. rnrnThe user interface at play here is clean and intuitive, making it easy for players new to the genre to pick it up and enjoy it. Yet, there’s plenty of nuance to keep vets glued to their mouse and keyboard. rnrnSupreme Commander allows you to crank out units from multiple bases at once while you wage war on the other side of the map. Camera control is quick and responsive, which is essential for a game of this scale. You can easily zoom out for a global view, or zoom in and observe individual units. It’s incredible.rnrnOverall, the game plays fast and is easy to get a grip on, yet it still attempts to hold your hand every step of the way. Supreme Commander can also feel redundant at times, as it makes you crush your enemies over and over again hoping to complete the same objectives.rnrnThe good news is that the maps are designed in such a way that winning can be accomplished with just about every conceivable method. With no real choke points for players to set up shop, no matter what kind of strategy player you are, you’ll enjoy your time spent with Supreme Commander.rnrnWhile Supreme Commander has come in a little short of its promise due to mundane mission objectives and dull terrain, the core game represents a near-flawless mix of simplicity and hidden depth. If you’re a strategy gamer who’s grown jaded, it’s the exact shot in the arm you need.

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